Your IT Department Isn’t Doomed

Every IT department is different, but they all
have one thing in common. They’re often of the target of complaints, and they
take the brunt of technology jokes.

It may be easy to criticize your IT department
when they don’t pull through for you, but that’s the last thing you should do. While
wit and sarcasm are entertaining, they won’t endear you to the department you
need most in times of technical crisis.

The fact is that your IT department is working on
the future. They are taking advantage of new trends and opportunities that allow
them to create value for all school stakeholders. They’re also trying to onboard users of varying skill levels.
Think of their work as continuously moving up a ladder toward a singular goal.
As they access each new rung, they must move the entire organization as well.
Some will be quicker and some slower, but every employee has to move forward.

Here’s how you can help.

Avoid
blaming tech problems on the IT department

Your school’s technology experts are used to a
variety of common complaints. Forgotten
passwords, immediate challenges, and fear of change are things they deal with
every day. The truth, however, is that your technology department wants to do
so much more for you. They can’t help you with new technology until you master
the technology you have.

Take responsibility for remembering your own
passwords. Troubleshoot problems before writing a help desk ticket. You don’t have to read the manual, but
at least read the directions or watch a YouTube video for clarification. Seek
to solve the problem on your own first.

Focus on
leadership

Your IT department looks out for your security. They
protect you from hackers, phishing schemes, and ransomware attacks while making
sure you have access to a robust network. The connectivity you need for
personal instruction and engage students is accessible because of your tech
department’s diligence.

Don’t destroy their work by inviting trouble. No
Nigerian prince needs your immediate help. Fishy-looking email addresses are
likely full of phishing. Avoid downloading free apps that you tech department
has not fully vetted. Let your IT department take the lead in what’s safe and
what’s not.

The future
of your tech department

What else is your IT department working on?
They’re probably looking for ways to incorporate AI technology to make
your tech experience more personal. By incorporating machine learning in school
technology, the IT department can offer you dynamic ways to provide
personalized learning for students. Chatbots and virtual assistants help teachers
customize instruction, but only because the IT department has led the way and
made it possible.

You can help them by taking the time to learn
the technology they provide. Ask thoughtful questions. Practice the skills
you’re learning. Be part of the team, not someone who complains about the
people you have to depend on to get your job done.

You may discover that your IT department is full
of smart people who want to make your work easier, more productive, and even a
little fun. Best of all, you’ll all move up those ladder rungs together.

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Since technology is not going anywhere and does more good than harm, adapting is the best course of action. That is where The Tech Edvocate comes in. We plan to cover the PreK-12 and Higher Education EdTech sectors and provide our readers with the latest news and opinion on the subject. From time to time, I will invite other voices to weigh in on important issues in EdTech. We hope to provide a well-rounded, multi-faceted look at the past, present, the future of EdTech in the US and internationally.

We started this journey back in June 2016, and we plan to continue it for many more years to come. I hope that you will join us in this discussion of the past, present and future of EdTech and lend your own insight to the issues that are discussed.

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